The Beginning of the End

Category: Genocide

In 1977 relations with Vietnam fell apart because of border clashes and Vietnam activity on the border. Pol Pot then began to distrust the Vietnamese and on April 3 the Cambodian army crossed over into Vietnam to eliminate them. Cambodia wanted to at least intimidate Vietnam into submission and these actions angered the Vietnamese government against the Khmer Rouge. Vietnam responded in May 1977 with an air assult on Cambodia and gradually began to invade the country. After making failed attempts to settle with Cambodia, Vietnam decided that it would go to a full-scale war. In late 1978 Vietnam successfully overthrew the Khmer Rouge and gained control of Cambodia.